Recent information

17-Jul-2002

Version 1.0 of the English Auction applet
was uploaded.

General rules

The
English auction applet is an Internet computerized implementation of an English auction.
An English auction is one of the oldest forms of auctions. It is characterized by its open
bid format (every bidder is aware of the other participants’ bids) and the increasing
bids that are posted by the auction participants.

The
current implementation of the auction includes more features such as:

(1)A minimal bid.

(2)A fixed predefined bid
increment.

The
product sold in the auction is displayed to the bidders. Every bidder is allowed to place
bids providing their bid exceeds both the minimal bid and the current high bid by the
predefined bid increment displayed on the screen.

The
product is sold to the bidder who placed the highest bid when the auction ends, and this
player will pay according to his/her bid.

Screen
structure

The
auction screen is constructed of several sub-windows that displays various pieces of data
to the player. Part of this information may be presented to participants during the
auction.

The bounding circle represents the
bidding room. Bidders that are first just joining the room, i.e watching but not yet
contributing, are represented by color dots outside the circle. When a bidder posts a bid,
his/her dots moves from the outside into the circle. Higher bids are displayed closer to
the center of the room. Each bidder has a “bidding path” (angle) from the outside to
the middle of the room. When the bidder places a new bid, his/hers dot is moved on the
path towards the middle of the room. Other dots are rearranged according the new high bid.
The player itself (you) is represented using a red dot. Your bidding path is vertical from
the top of the circle towards the middle.

When a bidder does not respond for more
than 30 seconds, the bidder's dot changes into a small gray circle and an indication is
given to all the participants in the message line. Other indications are given when:

(1) A new high bid is posted.

(2) When a new participant arrives.

The red circle in the middle of the
bidding room represents the clock - the time remaining for the auction. The clock circle
is initially empty. As the auction time passes it is painted red. When the auction ends,
no more bidding is allowed and an indication is given to the player.

The bidding window

The player can post bids by entering
the bid in the bottom field (which is the only field available for activation). The player
can only raise the bid by the amount specified in the instructions above the bidding field
provided that the bid is higher than the minimal bid and from the current high bid.

Auction information

The upper middle window displays
information about the auction. It includes the following data:

(1)Auction start time.

(2)Auction end time.

(3)Last update time.

(4)Number of products that
are sold on this auction.

(5)Previous number of
bidders and interested web surfers that visited the auction. Part of them participated in
the auction and part did not (they were only watching the auction).

(6)List of the five highest
bids arranged in descending order.

Participants’ information

The lower left window displays
information about the other bidders. This information is gathered by the auction system
during previous auctions. The information is displayed only for the current bidders
(active in the auction) and that are recognized by the auction system. The information
includes:

(1)Bidders’ names.

(2)Bidders’ pictures.

(3)Bidders’ interest
reason: Business or Private.

(4)Bidders’ winning
history in our auction system (number of auctions that the bidder already won).

(5)Bidders’ bidding
behavior: Amateur or Professional.

(6)Bidders’ interest in
this current auction: Low, Medium or high.

Product information

Information about the product that is
sold in this auction is displayed both in a figure with a title that is displayed in the
upper right window and in the lower middle window. This window presents additional
information about the product that is gathered during the auction and that might be
relevant to the bidders.